Dean of Students

Description:

Hope College seeks a new Dean of Students (DOS) who will be a key part of the college’s senior leadership team. The DOS will report to the Vice President for Student Formation and Cocurricular Programming, and will serve as a key leader on the Student Formation Team and the President’s Cabinet. An experienced student affairs leader with a heart for Christian education and an inspiring vision for student engagement and campus life, this person will bring a thorough understanding of best practices in student affairs, enthusiasm for Hope Forward, boldness to shape new direction, and creativity to meet the particular challenges facing higher education today. 

At Hope College, the DOS will be an innovative and collaborative partner in the institution-wide effort to provide an outstanding, integrated co-curricular experience for all students. A champion for Hope students, they will demonstrate fairness, consistency, emotional acumen, resourcefulness and strategic thinking. Recognizing the value of institutional processes, they will provide leadership and guidance in analysis, review, creation and interpretation of student policies and procedures. The DOS will establish meaningful relationships across campus and beyond, with students, colleagues, families and community members. Committed to the promise of students’ growth, they will comprehensively lead the Student Development division and partners across campus to advance areas of holistic wellness, spiritual growth, inclusive excellence and robust community life. The DOS will thrive — and will help students and colleagues thrive — in a climate of continuing change, grounded by Hope’s strong tradition of Christian liberal arts education. Keeping students at the heart of all decisions, the DOS will be a leader in responding to the evolving needs and passions of Hope's increasingly diverse and engaged student body. 

Hope College is committed to creating a diverse, ecumenical Christian academic community that invites all its members into engagement with the historic Christian faith. Individuals interested in this position must be a Christ-centered, mission-oriented leader with a passion for students and a commitment to the liberal arts within a Christian setting.  The successful candidate will be dedicated to the college’s Christian identity and character, and will fully embrace Hope’s mission and be able to live into all parts of it. 

Responsibilities: 

• Provide vision and leadership for ensuring a high-quality, high-impact co-curricular experience with a clear focus on student formation.

• Serve as advocate and champion for Hope students and promote the primacy of the student in the college’s mission. 

• Provide supervisory leadership for the Student Development division, directing a team of professionals in: Counseling and Psychological Services; Health Center; Housing; Residential Life and Education; Student Conduct; and Student Life. Supervisory leadership includes effective staff management, hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment.

• Work collaboratively with partners — within the division and across campus — to plan, design, develop and deliver innovative student programs and services that reflect and support the mission of the college, complement academic achievements, build community, and engage students in meaningful, spiritually-formative experiences. Ensure that these programs and services are equitably provided to meet the needs of students.

• Work closely with campus and community partners to tailor and provide support to individual students as needed.

• Actively support the college’s approach to strategic enrollment management, including student retention, by developing and maintaining close working relationships with campus partners, including colleagues from Academics, Admissions, Athletics, Campus Ministries, Campus Safety, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Disability and Accessibility Resources, Global Education, and the Registrar’s Office.

• Recommend, develop, analyze and implement policies, procedures and practices that foster student success, uphold community standards and incorporate elements of care and accountability; recommend department and operational structures, personnel, and resources to ensure a student-centered environment at all levels; and ensure compliance with college policies and procedures and applicable legal rules and regulations.

• Analyze and evaluate data, outcomes and metrics to be used in strategic decision-making, measure the success of student life programming, and developing and improving procedures, policies and practice.

• Ensure financial sustainability by planning and managing divisional annual budget, and working with CFO to set appropriate targets for revenue and expenses.

• Proactively work to build a culture of trust, belonging and continuous improvement within the campus community, and foster a fully inclusive environment and experience that lives into Hope’s mission and promotes equity for all.

• Develop and implement divisional response to on- and off-campus incidents that impact students, in coordination with on-campus partners, including departments and individual colleagues, and off-campus partners, including Holland Hospital, Ottawa County Department of Public Health, Holland Department of Public Safety, and Ottawa County Sheriff.

• Provide and support education for the campus community to ensure proper understanding of and connection to resources provided by the Office of the Dean of Students.

• Support student events and activities through attendance and/or participation.

• Support compliance and campus community standards, and serve as a resource to the teams that address students' disruptive behavior within and outside the classroom.

• Serve as an active member of the college’s Risk and Responsibility Team. 

• Actively support Hope Forward, the college’s new long-term strategy to ensure access for every student.

• Perform other related duties or special projects as directed.

Qualifications:



• Master's degree in student affairs or a related field required. Terminal degree preferred.

• 5-10 years of progressively responsible administrative experience in student affairs (including experience in student life, student health and wellness, residential life, risk management, student conduct, DEI, disability and accessibility resources, and equity and Title IX), with demonstrated success in student services and direct interaction with students.

• Awareness of, and commitment to, best practices in student affairs.

• Demonstrated success as a leader and strategist in a complex organizational environment, with a commitment to professionalism and integrity.

• A mature understanding of and commitment to the Christian faith.

• Broad experience interacting with and supporting the needs of a diverse student population. 

• Intercultural proficiency, and the ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientation, disabilities, socio-economic backgrounds and beliefs.

• Ability to engage with students and student issues with sensitivity and compassion.

• Exceptional managerial skills that demonstrate success in: supporting and leading a team, including during times of transition; managing overall performance; and providing coaching and feedback. 

• Experience with budgets, budget oversight, strategic planning, and effective management of fiscal and human resources.

• Ability to effectively implement, communicate and lead others through both new and existing strategies and initiatives.  

• High level of collegiality and the ability to build collaborative relationships characterized by mutual respect, trust and commitment to shared goals. 

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in all aspects of crisis management.

• Ability to deal with complex issues with keen administrative judgment and a high degree of confidentiality, discretion and diplomacy.

• Ability to use assessment data to inform decisions and set policy.

• Track record of setting and meeting priorities, goals and deadlines.

Application Instructions:

As part of the online application, candidates will upload a cover letter, resume and a document with contact information for three references.